Drum gripper



Aug. 11, 1931. IYCYVL. HOOPER" ET AL DRUM GRIPPER Filed June 30, 1927 M sai-16 INVENTOR Cm Q 4!. cc/ber E0600! I. Jam l-(and BY :7

a; ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1931 STATES CHARLES L. I-IOOPER AND ROBERT F. SUTHER-LAND, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS TO VACUUM OIL COMPANY, OF NEVT YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DRUM GRIPPER Application filed June 30,

The present invention relates to a drum gripper and an object thereof is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for gripping drums and containers to hold them against turning while the screw bung or plug is being scribed; the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a drum gripper constructed in accordance with this invention, together with a drum in position to cooperate with the gripper;

Fig. 2 shows the drum and the gripper in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the gripper in gripping position; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line M, Fig. 3.

The container 1 shown in the drawings is a cylindrical drum or receptacle having a screw bung or plug 2. This plug is screwed home by a wrench 3. The containers are fed one at a time to a support 4: forming, in this instance, part of a roller conveyor and arranged to one side of this support is a vertical support 5 of any suitable construction for the gripping means.

The gripping means comprises a split band or ring 6 having its inner face provided with a friction material 7 This split clamping ring is mounted to swing so as to fit it over the upper end of the drum or container 1 or to slip it off the upper end of the drum or container 1. In this instance, a rock shaft 8 is provided mounted to turn in bearing arms 9 projected from the vertical support 5. This rock shaft 8 has an arm 10 extended laterally therefrom and secured to one end of the split ring 6. The other end of the split ring has a link 11 pivoted thereto at 12 and also pivoted at 13 to an arm 14; rigid with the rock shaft 8. This supporting means for the split ring 6 permits the split ring to be swung about a horizontal axis and it also permits the split ring to be expanded and contracted.

For the purpose of expanding and contract- 1927. Serial No. 202,734.

ing the split ring there may be employed a toggle mechanism comprising a link 13 having a common pivot at 12 with a link 11 and in turn pivoted at 14 to a lever 15. The lever 15 is pivoted at 16 to the arm 10 and has an operating arm 17 extending laterally with reference to the clamping ring.

The operation of the invention may be un derstood from the foregoing description but it may be summarized as follows. The container or drum 1 is moved onto the support 4 while the split ring 6 lies in an elevated position under the influence of a counter balancing Weight 18 secured to the rock shaft 8. The split ring 6 is then lowered over the upper end of the drum, a handle 19 preferably being employed for controlling the ring. After the ring surrounds the drum 1, the wrench 3 is fitted over the bung or plug 2 and thereafter the lever 17 is swung in the direction of the arrow 6, Fig. 1, to break the toggle and draw the ends of the split ring together, causing the gripping of the drum 1. The turning of the wrench 3 in the direction of the arrow A causes the movably supported end of the split ring 6 to have a wrapping action which increases the binding of the split ring upon the drum, permitting the operator of the apparatus to employ both hands on the wrench 3 for tightening the bung 2. After the bung has been tightened the lever 17 is shifted in the opposite direction, thus freeing the gripping device from the drum and permitting it to be swung upwardly, in order that the drum may be moved from the support 4.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drum gripper comprising a support for a drum to be gripped, a split ring for gripping the drum on the support, a rock shaft, an arm rigid with the rock shaft and with one end of the split ring, a link pivotally connected with the other end of the split ring and with the rock shaft to permit said ring and to move toward and from the other end, and means for effecting the expansion and contraction of the ring. Y

2. A drum gripper comprising a rock shaft mounted to turn about a horizontal axis,

a split gripping ring, an arm extending from the rock shaft rigidly secured thereto and to an end of the split ring, a link interposed between the rock shaft and the other end of the split ring, and a toggle connecting the two ends of the split ring for expanding and contracting the same.

3. A drum gripper comprising a rock shaft mounted to turn about a horizontal is s,a,split gripping ring, an arm extending from the rock shaft rigidly secured thereto and to an end of the split ring, a link interposed between the rock shaft and the other end of the split ring, and a toggle connecting the two ends of the split ring for expanding and contracting the same, and a counter balance for the split ring secured to the rock 4;. A drum gripper comprising a split gripping ring, a carrier for said ring pivoted, at a substantial distance to one side of the ring, on a horizontal axis substantially in the plane of the ring, and toggle mechanism, mounted on said carrier, for contracting the ring to tighten it about a drum.

5. A drum gripper comprising a split gripping ring, a supporting arm rigidly attached to one end of the ring and pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis substantially in the plane of the ring, ahand lever, for operating the ring, pivotally mounted on said arm, and a link connecting the hand lever with the other end of the ring.

CHARLES L. HOOPER. 

